Why Colostrum / Antenatal Expressing is Helpful
Exclusive breastfeeding is healthy for you and your baby. Colostrum is the first breast milk you will make and is very protective. It helps to regulate your baby’s blood sugar, protects from infection, increases bowel movements and is easy to digest.
Antenatal hand expressing’ is collecting your colostrum in the last few weeks prior to giving birth usually from 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Practising this skill may help you to get better at it and also give you reassurance that you are producing colostrum.
However, the amount obtained can vary from none at all, to a few drops, to a teaspoon full. Any amount collected will be valuable for your baby. The amount expressed during your pregnancy does not indicate how much milk you will produce after birth.
Your Midwife may have chosen to discuss antenatal hand expressing with you for varied reasons including:
• They may have noticed a reason why your baby might need some extra colostrum after birth to ensure your baby’s blood sugar is high enough.
• Your labour is being induced.
• A potential feeding challenge has been identified.
• Your baby may need to spend time on our Neonatal Unit.
• Personal choice to harvest your colostrum.
If you are unsure what that reason is, please ask your Midwife.
How to Store Your Colostrum
• Colostrum must be stored in purple feeding syringes with a sterile cap. These can be provided by your Midwife from 37 weeks.
• Syringes must be clearly labelled with your name, hospital number, date and time expressed.
• Colostrum is best stored in a freezer bag in the freezer straight after expressing.
Storage at home and in hospital differs slightly as the temperature and infection risk is higher in hospitals.
Maximum times for safe storage of breast milk in the home
Fresh breast milk:
Room temperature: 6 hours
Fridge: 5 to 10°C: 3 days
Fridge: 0 to 4°C: 8 days
Maximum times for safe storage of breast milk in the hospital
Fresh breast milk:
Room temperature: 4 hours
Fridge: 0 to 4°C: 48 hours
Freezer: -20°C or lower: 3 months
Bringing your colostrum into hospital
• Colostrum should be transported in a cool bag or box, with frozen ice packs.
• When you arrive to have your baby, please hand your labelled frozen colostrum to the Midwife and this will be kept in the freezer space on the antenatal or postnatal ward. This milk is your responsibility.
Defrosting colostrum
Breast milk is best thawed within the refrigerator and never refrozen once thawed. However, if needed quickly, it can be defrosted under cool, then warm, running water and the outside of the container dried before use or near to mothers’ skin.
Hand expression video
Department: Maternity
Version Number: 5